mineral

Quartz Pebble

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Translucent cloudy white to yellowish; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Translucent cloudy white to yellowish
Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when water-worn)

Identified May 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from cooling magma or hydrothermal veins. This specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble, shaped by mechanical erosion over thousands of years as it traveled through a stream or along a shoreline.

Uses & applications

Used in glassmaking, electronics (piezoelectric properties), abrasives, and as decorative gravel. Smooth pebbles like this are popular in aquariums, Zen gardens, and crystal healing collections.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. These rounded specimens are often called 'river stones' or 'beach glass' equivalents because of their smooth, frosted texture.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. It is found globally in almost all geological environments, particularly in riverbeds and along coastal beaches.